Tag Archives: New York City

Jefferson Market Courthouse

Manhattan, , , , , , , , , , ,

Jefferson Market Courthouse (bounded by Sixth Avenue, Greenwich Avenue and W 10th Street) was completed in 1874, designed by Frederick Clarke Withers. The former Third Judicial District Courthouse is now the Jefferson Market branch of the New York Public Library.

The style is American High Victorian Gothic, faced in red brick with black brick and yellow Ohio sandstone trim. The sculpture in the pediment depicts the trial scene from “The Merchant of Venice.” The clock/bell tower originally served also as a fire watch tower (the stairstepped tower windows reveal a spiral staircase within).

The court moved out in 1958; local preservationists campaigned to have the building saved as a library, and the New York Public Library agreed in 1961. The building reopened in 1967.

Source: “Guide to New York City Landmarks, Fourth Edition,” New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission.

This is where Harry Thaw was tried for the assassination of prominent architect Stanford White. Coincidentally, White’s firm – McKim, Mead and White – designed 11 branches of the New York Public Library.

Jefferson Market Courthouse Vital Statistics
  • Location: 425 Sixth Avenue at W 10th Street
  • Year completed: 1874
  • Architect: Frederick Clarke Withers
  • Floors: 6
  • Style: American High Victorian Gothic
  • New York City Landmark: 1969 (part of Greenwich Village Historic District)
  • National Register of Historic Places: 1972
Jefferson Market Courthouse Suggested Reading

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Fred F French Building

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The Fred F. French building was constructed in 1926-27 as headquarters of real estate developer Frederick Fillmore French (who built Tudor City, among other projects). French’s own architect, H. Douglas Ives, collaborated with John Sloan (Sloan & Robertson) to create the Art Deco-cum-Babylonian design. Setbacks are outlined in colorful terra cotta; the massive top panels are of faience, a more expensive glazed version.

The building’s lobby and Fifth Avenue vestibule are small but stunning for their rich colors and gilding. At this writing (August 2012) the ground floor retail space is being renovated for a Tommy Bahama store – one hopes that the storefronts will be in character with the building. The 38-floor French Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004 and became a New York City landmark in 1986.

Sad Admission Department: For many years, I worked one block away from this building and never noticed it.

Fred F. French Building Vital Statistics
  • Location: 551 Fifth Avenue at E 45th Street
  • Year completed: 1927
  • Architect: H. Douglas Ives and John Sloan
  • Floors: 38
  • Style: Art Deco
  • New York City Landmark: 1986
  • National Register of Historic Places: 2004
Fred F. French Building Suggested Reading

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Fifth Avenue Swath

Collections, Manhattan, , , , ,

You won’t find “Fifth Avenue Swath” on any map of New York City. It is a neighborhood designation that exists only in the “AIA Guide To New York City.” In fact, if you Google “Fifth Avenue Swath,” Google will ask “Did you mean Fifth Avenue Swatch?” and display those results by default.

This section of Midtown takes in the two blocks east and two blocks west of Fifth Avenue, from Central Park South/East 59th Street south to 45th Street. It includes dozens of landmark hotels, churches and commercial buildings – including famed Rockefeller Center – but no Landmarks Commission-designated historic districts.

You’ll find that this is one of the richest sections of New York, architecturally speaking, with every style from Renaissance to Postmodern beautifully represented. Churches, office towers, department stores and boutiques, classic hotels, museums, banks, private clubs, consulates, swank apartments and more – every block has something to savor.

The AIA Guide lists 88 significant buildings; we’ve taken the liberty of adding several others that caught our eye, and were forced to omit some buildings because they were shrouded with scaffolding at the time. As a result, this gallery includes 117 structures.

These are the buildings listed in the “AIA Guide to New York City,” where you can find additional details. The buildings listed in italic are not pictured in the gallery.

1. Rockefeller Center
A. 1270 Sixth Avenue Building
B. Radio City Music Hall
C. GE Building (ex RCA Building)
D. British Building – 620 Fifth Ave
E. La Maison Francaise – 610 Fifth Ave
F. Palazzo d’Italia – 626 Fifth Ave
G. International Building (630 Fifth Avenue) / International Building North (636 Fifth Avenue)
H. 1 Rockefeller Plaza (Time & Life Building)
I. Associated Press Building – 45 Rockefeller Plaza
J. 10 Rockefeller Plaza
K. Simon & Schuster Building – 1230 Sixth Ave
L. Warner Communications Building – 15 W51 Street
M. 600 Fifth Avenue
N. Celanese Building – 1211 Sixth Ave
O. McGraw-Hill Building – 1221 Sixth Ave
P. Exxon Building – 1251 Sixth Ave
Q. Time & Life Building – 1271 Sixth Ave
R. Sperry Corporation Building – 1290 Sixth Ave
2. The Centria Apartments – 18 W48 Street
3. Swiss Center Building – 608 Fifth Ave
4. TGI Fridays – 604 Fifth Ave
5. Benetton (now Sephora) – 597 Fifth Ave
6. Bank of America – 592 Fifth Ave
7. 575 Fifth Avenue
8. Fred F. French Building – 551 Fifth Ave
9. 360 Madison Avenue
10. 383 Madison Avenue
11. Saks Fifth Avenue – 611 Fifth Ave
12. Cohen Brothers Tower – 10 E50 Street
13. St Patrick’s Cathedral Complex / A. Cardinal’s Residence / B. Lady Chapel
14. A. 451-457 Madison Avenue / B. New York Palace Hotel
15. The Urban Center – 457 Madison Ave
16. 488 Madison Avenue
17. Olympic Tower – 645 Fifth Ave
18. 11 East 51st Street
19. Versace – 647 Fifth Ave
20. Austrian Cultural Institute – 11 E52
21. 666 Fifth Avenue
22. Donnell Library – 20 W53
23. The Museum of Television and Radio – 23 W52
24. Paramount Group Building – 31 W 52
25. CBS Building – 51 W52
26. American Folk Art Museum – 45 W53
27. Museum Tower – 21 W53
28. Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)- 11 W53
29. St. Thomas Church and Parish House – 1 W 53
30. Samuel Paley Plaza (Paley Park) – 3 E53
31. 527 Madison Avenue
32. 535 Madison Avenue
33. 4 E54 – originally William H Moore House
34. Aeolian Building / Elizabeth Arden Building – 689-691 Fifth Avenue
35. University Club – 1 W54
36. 5 W54 – originally Moses Allen and Alice Dunning Starr House
37. 7 West 54 – originally Philip Lehman House
38. U.S. Trust Company – 9-11 W54
39. 13-15 W54
40. Rockefeller Apartments – 17 W54
41. Privatbanken Building – 20 W55
42. The Peninsula (ex Gotham)
43. St. Regis – 2 E55
44. Fifth Ave Presbyterian Church
45. SONY Building (originally AT&T HQ) – 550 Madison Ave
46. 717 Fifth Ave – originally Corning Glass Building
47. Henri Bendel Building – 712-714 Fifth Ave
48. 712 Fifth Avenue Building
49. 10 W56 – Felissimo (ex-Frederick C and Birdsall Otis Edey House)
50. Consulate of Argentina – 12-14 W56th Street
51. Oma Norma Kamali – 11 W56
52. 30 W56 – originally Henry Seligman House
53. Trump Tower – 725 Fifth Avenue
54. 590 Madison Avenue – originally IBM Building
55. Four Seasons Hotel – 57 E57th Street
56. Fuller Building – 41 E57th Street
57. LVMH (Louis Vuitton, Moet Hennessy) Tower – 19 E57th Street
58. The Chanel Building – 15 E57th Street
59. 3 E57th Street – former L.P. Hollander & Co. Building
60. The Crown Building – 730 Fifth Avenue (former Heckscher Building)
61. 9 W57th Street / Brasserie 8-1/2
62. 29 W57th Street – Curtiss-Wright Building, originally Ampico Building
63. Rizzoli Bookshop – 31 W57th Street
64. Louis Vuitton – 1 E57th Street
65. 745 Fifth Avenue – ex Squibb Building
66. Delmonico Plaza – 55 E59th Street
67. 650 Madison Avenue – ex C.I.T. Building
68. 5 E59th Street – one-time Playboy Club
69. General Motors Building – 767 Fifth Avenue
70. Plaza Hotel – 768 Fifth Avenue
71. The Plaza/Grand Army Plaza

The additional buildings pictured (but not listed in the “AIA Guide to New York City”) are:

72. Sherry Netherland
73. Christ Church
74. Swedish Church Center
75. Roosevelt Hotel
76. The Warwick
77. Hotel Elysee
78. Gotham Hotel
79. New York Hilton
80. Apple Store
81. Pop Burger
82. 605 Madison Avenue
83. 5 E57th Street
84. 6 E57th Street – Niketown
85. Tiffani & Co. – 727 Fifth Avenue
86. Harry Winston – 718 Fifth Avenue
87. Phantom of Broadway – 581 Fifth Avenue
88. 545 Fifth Avenue
89. Uncle Jack’s – 44 W56th Street
90. 575 Madison Avenue
91. 35 W54th Street
92. 551 Madison Avenue
93. UBS Building – 1285 Sixth Avenue
94. Credit Lyonnais – 1301 Sixth Avenue
95. 650 Fifth Avenue
96. 39 E51st Street
97. Tower 49
98. 380 Madison Avenue
99. 546 Fifth Avenue
100. 7 W45th Street
101. 555 Fifth Avenue
102. 21 W46th Street
103. 33 W46th Street
104. 14 E60th Street
105. 57 W57th Street
106. 625 Madison Avenue
107. 640 Fifth Avenue
108. Winston Building
109. Trump Parc
110. Trump Parc East
111. Metropolitan Club – 1 E60th Street
112. 21 Club – 21 W52nd Street
113. 18-20 E50th Street
114. The Harmonie Club – 4 E60th Street
115. LOVE – sculpture at Sixth Avenue and W55th Street

Other Resources

AIA Guide: p. 325.

The Corinthian

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The Corinthian condominiums on East 38th Street isn’t a landmark structure – yet – but it is certainly one of New York’s most distinctive buildings, residential or otherwise. The 57-story* “bundled tubes” design creates enormous semi-circular bay windows on all five (yes, five) asymmetrical sides arranged to maximize everyone’s view; private balconies are nestled between the tubes. (Google’s satellite view reveals The Corinthian’s unique shape.)

The full-block site is lavishly landscaped – even the roof has gardens; a fountain cascades in front of the grand entry; a public plaza forms the First Avenue border. The park-like setting isn’t mere decoration – The Corinthian sits at the entrance to the Queens-Midtown Tunnel, and the greenery minimizes the sights and sounds of traffic. (The East Side Airlines Terminal stood here prior to 1987: the location was ideal for quick exits to La Guardia and JFK airports.)

The development’s other amenities include an indoor swimming pool, underground garage, fitness club with running track and outdoor sun deck.

The amenities, location, views and luxurious design come at a price, naturally. According to City Realty’s listing, apartments cost from $545,000 (studio) to $5.85 million (5BR), depending on floor and exposure.

The Corinthian was designed by Michael Schimenti and Der Scutt Architects, built in 1987 and opened in 1988.

* Depending on the source, the height of The Corinthian is 54, 55 or 57 stories; we’re using the height reported in the owner’s website.

The Corinthian Vital Statistics
  • Location: 330 E 38th Street (off First Avenue)
  • Year completed: 1988
  • Architect: Michael Schimenti and Der Scutt Architects
  • Floors: 57
  • Style: Postmodern
The Corinthian Suggested Reading

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Kingsbridge Armory

Bronx, , , , , , , , ,

Originally known as the Eighth Coastal Artillery Armory, Kingsbridge Armory was built in 1912-17 with what was then the world’s largest drill hall, to accommodate artillery.

According to “Guide to New York City Landmarks,” the armory was designed by Pilcher & Tachau and inspired by a medieval French castle at Pierrefonds.

The main hall has been unused by the military for more than a decade, and New York City now controls the building. (A National Guard unit still uses the north annex, adjacent to the armory.) The Bronx Borough President has endorsed a proposal to turn the armory into an ice skating center with nine rinks.

Kingsbridge Armory Vital Statistics
  • Location: 29 W Kingsbridge Road between Jerome and Reservoir Avenues
  • Year completed: 1917
  • Architect: Pilcher & Tachau
  • Style: Romanesque
  • New York City Landmark: 1974
  • National Register of Historic Places: 1982
Kingsbridge Armory Suggested Reading

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Chrysler Building

Manhattan, , , , , , , , ,

Volumes have already been written about the Chrysler Building, so I’ll keep this short.

The Chrysler Building is among the very few landmarks that define New York City’s skyline. It’s the unmistakable DNA marker that – like the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty – proclaims “New York.”

Besides being unique, the Chrysler Building is beautiful. The silhouette, the crown, the setbacks, the gargoyles, the brickwork, the detailing are all beautiful. There is so much complexity and subtlety at work – such as the black brick accents at the corners that accentuate the building’s vertical lines.

Here are a few facts, with links to a wealth of fascinating articles, and my humble addition to the building’s ever-growing photographic record.

Browse
Chrysler Building Fast Facts
  • The Chrysler Building began life as the Reynolds Building – a project for real estate developer and former New York State senator William H. Reynolds.
  • The Chrysler Building was never owned or financed by the Chrysler Corporation – it was the personal project of Walter P. Chrysler.
  • The land under the Chrysler Building is owned by Cooper Union; the architect – William Van Alen – studied at Pratt.
  • The Chrysler Building and Manhattan Building (40 Wall Street, now the Trump Building) competed for “tallest” designation; their architects, William Van Alen and H. Craig Severance, had been partners before they became competitors.
  • Van Alen had to sue Walter Chrysler to collect his fee; he won, but the suit wrecked his career. After designing one of the most famous buildings of all time, Van Alen wound up teaching sculpture.
  • The Chrysler Building is now part of the “Chrysler Center,” managed by Tishman-Speyer, which also includes Chrysler East and Chrysler Trylons.
  • Chrysler Center is now 90% owned by Abu Dhabi Investment Council
Chrysler Building Vital Statistics
  • Location: 405 Lexington Avenue between E 42nd and E 43rd Streets
  • Year completed: 1930
  • Architect: William Van Alen
  • Floors: 77
  • Style: Art Deco
  • New York City Landmark: 1978
  • National Register of Historic Places: 1976
Chrysler Building Suggested Reading

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Beekman Tower Hotel

Manhattan, , , , , , , , ,

Originally known as Panhellenic Tower, the 28-story Beekman Tower Hotel was conceived by the New York Chapter of the Panhellenic Association in 1921 as a 14-story residence for female college grads. The association of Greek-letter college sororities wanted to provide affordable housing for women who were just entering the workforce in the years after World War I.

The building was completed in 1929 – delayed until the association raised enough money (through stock and mortgage) to buy land and build. The architect, John Mead Howells, also designed Pratt’s Memorial Hall and Columbia’s St. Paul’s Chapel. However, Howells was the Panhellenic Association’s second choice: Their original architect, Donn Barber, died before the land was purchased.

The building’s name changed to Beekman Tower Hotel and its clientele changed to include men during the 1930s, to stay viable through the Depression.

The lighter-colored bricks seen today are the result of repairs in 1996-97; originally the tower had a uniform orange-tan color. The deeply recessed columns of windows give the building its strong vertical lines. The glassed-in “Top of the Tower” enclosure was added in 1959.

While cited as an example of Art Deco architecture, the building’s decoration is relatively sparse (compared to other NY examples such as Rockefeller Center, Chanin Building and Chrysler Building). Greek-letter tiles on the ground floor reveal the hotel’s sorority lineage.

Beekman Tower Hotel Vital Statistics
  • Location: 3 Mitchell Place at First Avenue
  • Year completed: 1929
  • Architect: John Mead Howells
  • Floors: 28
  • Style: Art Deco
  • New York City Landmark: 1998
Beekman Tower Hotel Suggested Reading

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General Electric Building

Manhattan, , , , , , , ,

The General Electric Building (like the GE Building in Rockefeller Center) was originally designed for RCA-Victor (the merged Radio Corporation of America and Victor Talking Machine Corporation) in 1929. RCA wanted a headquarters building to express the company’s identity.

Architects Cross & Cross designed a 50-story Gothic/Art Deco tower rich in electricity/radio wave symbolism to convey RCA’s corporate identity. The brick and terra cotta design was crafted to blend in with its neighbors on the block, St. Bartholomew’s Church to the west and (St. Patrick’s) Cathedral High School to the south. (The high school has since been replaced.)

While the building was under construction, RCA negotiated independence from parent General Electric – and a move to an even bigger headquarters in Rockefeller Center. As part of the settlement, General Electric took over the tower at Lexington Avenue and E51st Street. Luckily, the electric bolts and radio waves also worked for GE’s identity. Only the logo on the corner clock seems to have been changed!

The General Electric Building was completed in December 1931; in the mid-1980s the windows were replaced. The building achieved NYC landmark status in July 1985. In 1995 the building was donated to Columbia University, which extensively restored the structure – notably the lobby. Entered into the National Register of Historic Places in January 2004.

General Electric Building Vital Statistics
  • Location: 570 Lexington Avenue at E 51st Street
  • Year completed: 1931
  • Architect: Cross & Cross
  • Floors: 50
  • Style: Art Deco
  • New York City Landmark: 1985
  • National Register of Historic Places: 2004
General Electric Building Suggested Reading
  • Landmarks Preservation Commission designation report
  • Docomomo entry (Docomomo stands for the documentation and conservation of buildings, sites and neighborhoods of the modern movement)

Google Map

100 United Nations Plaza

Manhattan, , , , , , , , , ,

100 United Nations Plaza, a 52-story wedge-topped condo monolith, dominated Turtle Bay until the Trump World Tower was built next door in 2001. (Appropriately, Trump World Tower looks as though it came right out of the movie “2001, A Space Odyssey.”)

Completed in 1989, the building is layered brick and glass containing 267 condominium apartments. The north and south facades of this giant arrow are different: The uptown side sports three columns of balconies; the downtown side has five columns of triangular balconies. Entry to the building is through a landscaped plaza on East 48th Street (327 E 48th Street, to be exact), deeply offset from First Avenue.

Apartments range up to six BR/six bath, and have nine-foot ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows; all are fitted with luxury appliances. The building amenities include garage and a fitness center with pool.

100 United Nations Plaza Vital Statistics
  • Location: 327 E 48th Street between First and Second Avenues
  • Year completed: 1989
  • Architect: Der Scutt Architects and Schuman, Lichtenstein, Claman & Efron
  • Floors: 52
  • Style: Postmodern
100 United Nations Plaza Suggested Reading

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